Tightener for cables



Aug. 23, 1938. J. J. KOLENO 2,128,030

TIGHTENER FOR GABLES Filed Sept. 3, 19s? I L 1. M mum/111,.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 23,1938

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGiaim.

This invention relates to tighteners for cables and other flexible elements and has for the primary object the provision of an eflicient, durable and inexpensive device of this character which may be readily adapted to a cable or flexible element and an anchor therefor and will automatically tighten the cable and maintain the latter free of slack and will permit the cable to readily adjust itself for thepurpose of removing twists therein.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, tpartly in section,

showing a tightener constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same installed on an anchor and connected with a cable.

Figure '2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the tightener.

35 Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section illustrating the same.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing an insulator employed between the tightener and the cable..

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a rigid tube'closed at each end by removable caps 2, one of which slidably receives a headed rod 3 and the other receives an anchoring rod 4, the head 5 of which engages angularly related faces of its respective cap to prevent rotationof the anchoring rod relative to the tube I. The anchoring rod is screw threaded to receive thereon nuts 6 after said rod has been passed through a post or anchor I thereby rigidly securing the rod on the anchor. The rod 3 has a head 8 located within the tube and forms a seat for one end of a coil spring 9, the other end of said spring bearing against the cap that supports the rod 3.

The normal action of the spring 9 is to draw the rod 3 inwardly of the tube. The exposed and of the rod 3 has a slot Hithrough which a cable ll may be passed and secured therein by a wedge l2.

A pin I 3 is connected to one of the caps by a flex- '6 ible element l4 and may be passed through an opening I! in the rod 3 when desiring to secure the rod against movement under the action of the spring 9 with the latter fully compressed. The pin i3 is applied to the rod 3 prior to connecting 10 the cable to the rod. The cable is then connected to the rod with as much slack removed therefrom that can be easily accomplished by a pull on the cable. With the rod {secured to the anchor I and the pin I! removed from the rod 3, the spring 15 9 acts to tighten the cable and maintain it free of slack.

An insulator l8 may be employed between the cable II and the rod 3 and consists of a clevis ll passing through the slot in the rod 3 and an in- 20 sulating block l8 pivoted to said clevis. The insulating block has an opening to receive the cable and after passing the cable through the opening of the block said cable is twisted or otherwise fastened uponitself. I

What is claimed is:

A cable tightener comprising a rigid tube, an anchor rod secured in one end of the tube against rotation relative thereto and adjustably secured to an anchor, a tension rod slidably received by said tube and having a slot, a head formed on the tension rod, a coil spring bearing against one end of the tube and against the head and acting to urge the tension rod towards the anchor and a pin for insertion in the slot and against one end of the tube to retain the tension rod positioned to fully tension the spring during the securing of a'cable to said tension rod and adapted to be removed to free said tension rod for movement under the influence of the fully tensioned spring 40 to tighten the cable and thereby remove slack therefrom.

JOSEPH J. KOLENO. 

